How To Check Marital Status Online In South Africa

In South Africa, checking your marital status—or someone else’s—is often necessary for legal, personal, or administrative reasons. Whether you’re applying for a marriage certificate, verifying the status of a partner, or confirming your own records, it’s possible to do this online through official channels. Here is how to check marital status online in South Africa.

Why You Might Need to Check Marital Status

People often need to verify marital status for the following reasons:

• To confirm if they are still legally married or divorced
• To confirm the status of a partner before marriage
• To avoid legal complications in inheritance or benefits
• For home affairs or visa application purposes

Check Through the Department of Home Affairs

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is the official government body that keeps records of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths in South Africa.

As of now, DHA does not offer a public online tool for directly checking marital status, but you can make a request online through affiliated platforms or by contacting them directly.

Visit the Home Affairs website:
www.dha.gov.za

Use the SMS Service (Quick and Easy Option)

The Department of Home Affairs offers an SMS-based service that allows you to check your marital status and ID information.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open a new SMS message
2. Type the letters M followed by your 13-digit ID number (no spaces)
   Example: M1234567890123
3. Send the SMS to 32551

You will receive a reply showing your marital status and the date of your last recorded marriage, if applicable. This service usually costs R1.00 per SMS.

Check Using Third-Party Services

Some verified third-party websites and platforms offer ID verification services that include marital status checks. These are often used by lawyers, HR departments, and private investigators.

Some popular platforms include:

• Lexis RefCheck
• VeriCred
• IDVerify.co.za

These services often charge a fee and may require you to register or provide additional documentation. Be sure to use reputable websites and never share your ID number with unverified platforms.

Visit a Home Affairs Office (if needed)

If you’re unable to use the online or SMS options, you can visit your nearest Home Affairs branch with your ID book or smart ID card. You can request a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or a confirmation letter of marital status, depending on what you need.

Important Notes

• You can only check your own marital status or someone else’s if you have legal grounds or their consent.
• Be careful of fraudulent websites that offer this service. Only use the official DHA channels or trusted verification platforms.
• For any concerns, you can call the Home Affairs Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90.

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